Compass



Jan. 16, 1940. J, MElLNER '2,187,519

COMPASS Filed Jan. 29, 1936 ATTO RNEY Patented` Jan. 16, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE COMPASS Joseph Meilner, West Orange, N. J., assigner to `Eagle Pencil Company, New York, N. Y., a. corporation of Delaware Application Januaryi29, 1936, Serial No. 61,266

7 Claims. (Cl. 33--149) My present invention relates particularly to of the flank I5 as shown. The lower edge of the drafting Compasses although certain of the genpivot wing I4 is curved at I9 on an arc struck eral features thereof are applicable to dividers about the pivot aperture I8 therein and the upand certain particular features are applicable to per edge of the inturned or offset leg flank I6 is i vmarking implements more generally.` similarly curved at 20 about an arc struck from 5 An object of the invention is to provide a practhe pivot center I8. tical low-cost drafting compass of durable con- Preferably each leg has a pivot stud 2I exstruction made of a minimum number of metal tending inward therefrom laterally of the pivot stampings that are readily assembled and which hole, and illustratively to the left thereof, and 0. admits of ready and dependable setting to the at the inner face of the pivot wing. The stud 2| l0 desired radius. may be in the form of a pin affixed in the wing, Another object is to provide an implement of but is preferably an instruck dent or embossment the above type which affords simple and convenas shown. ient means for adjusting and gripping the writ- The web I3 on the handle member H has two 5 ing lead point at the marking arm, apertures 22l and 222 into which the respective l5 In the accompanying drawing, in which is studs 2I extend when the said web is sandwiched shown one of various possible embodiments of between the two wings of the leg members, and the several features of the invention, said web also has a short elongated longitudinal Fig, 1 is a plan view of the drafting compass, slot 23 therein to accommodate the pivoting con- 0, Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional view on a larger nection rivet member I2. Preferably, the rivet 20 scale on line 2-2 of Fig. 1, I2 has a spring washer 24 under one head there- Fig. 3` is a View `in longitudinal cross-section of to exert yielding pressure for maintaining the on an enlarged scale on line 3-3 of Fig. l, parts against inadvertent shifting from any set Fig. 4 is a fragmentary detail perspective View position. It is clear from the assembly described 5 showing the mounting of the arcuate scale arm, that in any and all settings thereof, the handle 25 Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the handle memwill extend symmetrically to bisect the exterior ber, angle between the two legs, and the pivoting Fig. 6 is a View in. longitudinal cross-section rivet I2 occupies a higher or a lower position taken on the line 6 6 of Fig. 3, along the elongated slot 23 depending on whether 0, Fig. '7 is a detail transverse sectional view the compass is set for a smaller or a larger ra- 30 taken on line I--T of Fig. 3 and on a greatly endius.

larged scale, The arcuate scale arm 26, struck as usual about Fig. 8 is a transverse sectional view taken on the pivot I2 as a center, is preferably located linev8-8 of Fig. l, at one end thereof within the deep channel of 5 Fig. 9 is a transverse sectional View taken on leg I0, a short and narrow integral tang 2l from` 35 line 9 9 of Fig. 3, and one end of the scale arm projecting through a Fig. 10 is a view in longitudinal cross section corresponding small aperture 28 in the body of of an alternative embodiment of lead holder. the leg II) being turned over so that the inner Referring now to the drawing, the drafting end 261 of the arm 26 snugly nts against the body D compass includes two leg elements I 0 and II of the leg I 0 or floor of its channel conformation. 40

connected together by a pivot rivet I2 and with The opposite or free end of the scale arm exan intervening handle member H having a web tends across the depth of the channel of the I3 sandwiched between the enlarged upper pivot other leg II and protrudes outward therefrom wings I4 of the leg members. through a corresponding slot 30 in the body a The leg members are preferably of identical thereof. The scale arm is of thickness equal to 45 sheet metal stampings, each stamping being lonthe width of the channels of the legs, so as to gituclinally folded or doubled over to afford two snugly occupy the space therebetween. The snug relatively wide identical flanks I5 and I6 with engagement of the scale arm in the channel a narrow exterior longitudinal connecting body conformation of leg II accordingly assists in fricl I'I, affording a relatively narrow but deep chantionally retaining the compass in any position 50 nel conformation. Thus by virtue of its chanof adjustment.v Moreover, the scale arm serves nel section the leg though of sheet metal, has v to maintain the two legs with the forward iianks adequate stiffness. of the respective legs in a common plane and the The pivot wing I4 of the sheet metal leg I0 rear flanks in a common plane adjacent said first 5 projects as an integral extension in Vthe plane plane, and thereby affords the proper space be- 55;

tweenv the pivot wings I4 to accommodate therebetween the web I3 of the handle member, which web is preferably of corresponding thickness.

The lower ends of the respective legs are preferably narrow and rounded to form sockets 3l which are longitudinally split at 32 in alignment with the channel opening. These sockets serve firmly to grip andretain the respective divider or compass points. Illustratively the metal stylus 33', is frictionally gripped at its rear end by socket 3l on the leg Il and, of course, it may also be brazed or soldered in place and for dividers a similar stylus would be similarly disposed in the other leg l0.

In the compass construction set forth, a writ-- gitudinally slotted at 36B in registry or alignment with the slot 32 of the socket Si. Lodged in the lead holder tube is a lead positioning wire 31, the forward end of which abuts the short length of lead 33 positioned in the forward-end of the lead tube. For ready manipulation, the positioning wire has an end 39 turned outward through the slot e6 of the lead holder tube, and when near its uppermost position also through the corresponding slot 32 in the socket di, said projecting end serving for ready manipulation of the wire.

Preferably, the extremity of said wire is coiled around completely to encircle-the socket 3| in one convolution 4d, thereby to afford a ring readily held between the thumb and forenger for advancing or retracting the follower wire.

For locking the length of lead in set position, the forward. tapered end of the lead tube is longitudinally slit at di for resilience and a length of said tube in advance of the slot St, is threaded at 132 for accommodating a removable clutch sleeve t3 the reduced end i4 of which grips the split extremity of the lead tube and causes it firmly to grip the lead 38 in fixed position. By the means set forth, it is apparent that as the lead is consumed, it is merely necessary slightly to loosen the clutch sleeve 3, to push the ring 4t of the positioning wire 3l downward to` advance the lead, so that the effective length of the lead carrying leg becomes equal 'to that of the stylus carrying leg and thereupon to retighten the clutch sleeve to lock the lead into set position.

in order to avoid any possibility of the setting ring d@ being arrested by the extremity of the sleeve 3l whenever it is pushed back from around the protruding length of the lead holding tube 35, said extremity is rounded at 44.

In the alternative and preferred embodiment of Fig. l0 corresponding parts are designated by the same reference numerals primed. The lead positioning wire 3l extends in the unslotted lead holding tube 35 and llongitudinally thereabove within the channel formation of the leg l. In this embodiment the wire 3l has lan end 39 turned outward in this oase through a longitudinal slot 36 along and symmetrically of the leg channel construction, the outer end of the wire being headed at lill' in the manner of a pin head exposed at the exterior of the arm and by manipulation of which, preferably with the thumb or the thumb nail the positioning wire S7 may be adjusted along the slot 35 for positioning the lead in substantially the same manner asin the other embodiment previously described.

Preferably the slot 3G' is of Width such Aas snugly to accommodatethe diameter of the wire end 39 to prevent looseness ofthe wire in use of the compass.

The combined web and handle structure is preferably made of two superposed wings Welded or brazed together at each with an integral stem extension 46 longitudinally thereof and of a longitudinal channel form. A sheet metal tube" 4l is lodged between said stern elements and firmly gripped or welded in place, as a unitary structure therewith. The space within tube 41 may be utilized as a reservoir for extra leads. v A handle sleeve member 48 which may be of enameled metal and is closed at its upper end is preferably telescoped over the stem assembly 4B--41, and frictionally gripped thereby. Said handle sleeve member i8 is preferably hexagonal or octagonal in cross-section so that its sides will frictionally grip the longitudinal edges 49 of the respective stems 4B fo-r secure assembly thereon.

It will thus be seen that there is herein described apparatus in which the several features of this invention are embodied, and which apparatus-in use attains the various objects of the invention and is well suited to meet the requirements ofpractical use.

As many changes could be made in the above construction and many apparently widely difk ferent embodiments of this invention could be made without departing from the scope thereof, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawing shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters P atent of the United States is:

l. In a writing implement, a lead holder tube having lead ygripping means at its forward end and a slot along its length, a pusher wire in said slotted portion, said wire having its rear eX- tremity protruding through said slot and coiled around the lead holder for convenience of manipulation thereof, in adjustment of the position of said lead.

,2. In a drafting compass a leg having a socket at its lower extremity, split to provide a longitudinally extending slot, a longitudinally slotted lead holder tube aflixed in said socket With the slots "of the tube and socket in registering position, a lead pusher wire in said lead holder tube, the rear end of said wire protruding outward through said slots for convenient manipulation thereof, the forward end of said lead tube being slit and clutch means for tightening the lead near its protruding end in writing position.

3. In a drafting -compass a sheet metal leg longitudinally doubled in channel formation and presenting a socket kat its forward end, longitudinally split to provide a slot, the forward edge of said socket being rounded, a longitudinally slotted lead holder tube afxed in said socket with its slotsubstantially registering with that of said socket, the rear end of said lead tube being slotted and .a portion of the length of said tube in advance of said slotted portion being threaded for accommodating a clutch sleeve to lock the lead in adjusted position, the rear end of the pusher wire protruding through said slots and coil-ed around said socket for convenient manipvulation thereof, the forward end of said socket being rounded lfor ready riding of said coiled portion in the course of adjustment, from the protruding length of said lead holder tube over the length of said socket.

4. In apparatus of the character described, a handle unit comprising a flat web structure having attened elongated stems protruding from the face thereof said stems presenting channels facing but spaced from each other, an insert vsnugly fitted and securely retained between said channels, and a sleeve telescoped over and frictionally engaging the outer or convex surfaces of said stems.

5. A compass lead comprising a channel-shaped leg having side ilanks and a socket at its lower end, a lead holder tube aflixed in said socket having lead clutching meansk at the forward end thereof, a lead pusher wire extending at its lower end into said socket and having a portion of the length thereof longitudinally Within the channel formation of said leg, said Wire having an out-turned head, the end protruding through a longitudinal slot in said leg for adjusting the position of said wire and also of said lead.

B. The combination recited in claim 5 in which the longitudinal slot is symmetrically between the flanks of the channel construction and is of Width corresponding to the diameter of the pusher Wire for frictional hold thereon.

7. In an apparatus of the character described, a handle unit comprising a flat web structure having a pair of flattened elongated stems protruding from one end thereof, and presenting channels facing each other, and a sleeve telescoped over and frictonally engaging the outer or convex surfaces of said stems, and forming with said stems a magazine for compass leads.

JOSEPH MEILNER. 

